This article explains how to disqualify candidates during the application process. It also explains how to set up disqualification reasons, which you can use to gain insights into your hiring practices.
There are two types of disqualification:
- Rejection: A candidate does not meet the job’s requirements.
- Withdrawal: A candidate withdraws from the process themselves.
Set up disqualification reasons
Note
To add and manage disqualification reasons in Personio, you need the correct access rights. Learn more about access rights in Recruiting.
You can set up disqualification reasons in your Personio account. You can then use these to:
- Create reports on application data. Visit our article on exporting application data for more information.
- Analyze the reasons for applications being rejected or withdrawn.
To set up a disqualification reason, follow these steps:
- Go to Settings > Recruiting.
- Click the Disqualification reasons tab.
- Select either Rejection reasons or Withdrawal reasons at the left of the page.
- Add the reason for disqualification, for example, “Lacking experience for the role”.
Examples of common disqualification reasons
You can find examples of common disqualification reasons in the table below.
| Rejection reasons | Withdrawal reasons |
| Candidate not suitable for the role | Accepted offer at another company |
| Compensation expectations too high | Candidate did not appear for the interview |
| Failed test | Candidate applied for the wrong job |
| Job no longer available | Candidate is unwilling to relocate |
| Company is unable to sponsor a work visa | Job does not meet career objectives |
| Not the right fit for the company | Salary does not match expectations |
Disqualify a candidate
To disqualify a candidate, follow these steps.
- Go to Recruiting > Applications.
- Check the box to the left of the relevant candidate’s name.
- In the menu bar that appears, click Disqualify. Select a rejection or withdrawal reason from the list.
- Add a note about the reason for the rejection or withdrawal.
- If needed, email the candidate using a template. You can also schedule an automatic email.
- Check the box to anonymize the candidate’s data. Learn more about candidate anonymization.
The status of the application will now appear as Rejected or Withdrawn.
Tips
▶︎ If you add a note, it will appear in the Overview tab of the candidate’s profile. It will also appear as a column in your export file when you export your application data.
▶︎ If you anonymize the candidate’s data, the disqualification reason and note will remain.
Disqualify candidates in bulk
You can disqualify candidates in bulk from the Application List. As above, you can add a note, send an email, and anonymize the candidates' data.